Music chord teaching device

ABSTRACT

A music chord teaching device wherein a chord diagram is presented to indicate the proper finger positions for a stringed instrument, such as a guitar. The device comprises a two-sided graph, one side of which is provided with a music key selector means and the other side of which displays an associated group of chord diagrams. The indicia is so arranged as to present diagrams for three basic chords and three relative minor chords simultaneously. The key selector means side of the device is also provided with an indication of modulating notes between chord positions and sharps associated with a selected musical key.

[ 1 June 5, 1973 Primary Examiner- Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Etagniner Lawrence R. Franklin Att0rney-Warren N. Low and Richard P.Matthews [57] ABSTRACT I A music chord teaching device wherein a chorddiagram is presented to indicate the proper finger positions for astringed instrument, such as a guitar. The device comprises a two-sidedgraph, one side of which is provided with a music key selector means andthe other side of which displays an associated group of chord diagrams.The indicia is so arranged as to present diagrams for three basic chordsand three relative minor chords simultaneously. The key selector meansside of the device is also provided with an indi Samuel Laboy Alvarado,Esparta St. No. 60, Reparto Apolo, Guaynabo, P.R. 00657 Sept. 30,1971

Appl. No.: 185,257

US. CL... 235/89 lnt. 15/02 Field ofSearch........................................235/89; 84/47l-475,485

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent [191Alvarado [54] MUSIC CHORD TEACHING DEVICE [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

S n .m t ww Pk mm m w 6 C r n m m 8 H @M F 3 4i 4 WC g l l l l l l llllt 6 .m l l l l I l l I l I I I II mm W J m me w e m D l o o 6 8 w 2 0 0m m .m e 0 mm P m e c Q mo Q mm H e a m 0 4 f m 0 l O 4 m m m m o x W lr,

X539 32m C M4 4 u 2 /882 4 H u n 4 RN 0 m m :l me an m "m 4 3333 m m 8 4a 1 in? u n mu u llill IIIII I IHMHH HnnH ma l-l m 3 V .w ma A l mmnmmmww T N 8737 O 5656 R 9999 F mwmw 2608 52 4 2 ,9 28.75 3353 2323PATENTEDJUH 5197a 3.736.833

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVE OR- Samue/ aboy z ia ATTO EYS In a MD 34 FRONTPATENTEDJUH 5 m5 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

Samuel Laboy y A/va do WZWMW I l MUSIC CHORD TEACHING DEVICE Thisinvention relates to a music chord teaching device and more particularlyto a music chord teaching device for use in connection with a stringedinstrument, such as a guitar.

Heretofore it has been known to use teaching guides in order to instructmusic students in the proper positioning of the students fingers for agiven musical key. In prior known devices it has been possible todisplay relatively limited amounts of musical information in that thedevices and charts make use of only one side of the chart material.Typical devices of this character are shown in US. Pat. to Wiley et al.No. 3,338,126, Orzada, No. 2,079,920, Wickersham, No. 605,157 andGibson, No. 1,783,361.

In accordance with the present invention, however, a novel slide displayis disclosed wherein both sides of a slide member cooperate with a fixedcentrally located backing member which carries indicia-bearing aperturedsheet means attached at selected positions in the region of the top andbottom of the fixed backing member. By interleaving pairs of sheets ofthe slide member with the indicia-bearing apertured sheet means on thefixed backing member, considerably more information is conveyed with asingle setting of the teaching device of this invention. Furthermore, bymoving the slide member vertically, i.e., up and down with respect tothe fixed backing member. and by displaying plural chord diagramssimultaneously, it becomes possible to display all the desiredinformation in an extremely short travel dimension such as inapproximately one inch of movement. It thus becomes possible to employstop members on the fixed backing member whereby the entire unit becomesself-contained and inseparable. Not'only is the teaching unit easy touse, but it-isalso attractive in appearance and inexpensivetomanufacture.

The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent upon considering the following detaileddescription of the invention and by reference to the drawings in whichFIG. 1 is a front elevational view of aguitar chord teaching device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the guitar chord teaching device ofthe present-invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken in horizontal cross section along line 3-3of FIG. 1 andenlarged'slightly for clar- FIG. 4 is anexploded'perspective view, with a portion partially broken away,illustratingthe relationship of parts as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with aporton partially broken away, toillustratethe slide mechanism of the present invention; and

'FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational 'view of one of the chord diagrams. v

,While the presentinventionwill be described with respect to the useofthe music chord teaching device as applied to a guitar, it is to beunderstood that the invention is applicable to stringed instrumentsgenerally.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated anassembled composite of the chord teaching device indicated generally at6. Slidable vertically, i.e.,

up and down on the chord teaching device isa slide mechanism indicatedgenerally at 8 which slides with respect to a centrally located fixedbacking member 10. This backing member 10 maY conveniently be made froma relatively thick piece of cardboard. The slide mechanism 8 is providedwith substantially U-shaped slides 12 which recieve in clampingrelationship the marginal edges of sheets 14, 16, 18 and 20. The U-shaped slides 12 may be made conveniently from preformed plastic. Theseplurality of sheets have marginal edges substantially coincident with apair of opposed sides of the fixed backing member 10 in order that theslide mechanism may be clamped by the U-shaped slides 12 and move as aunit up and down on the fixed backing member 10.

The centrally located fixed backing member 10 is provided on oppositesides thereof with apertured sheet means 22, 24 which are attached atselected positions in the region of the top and bottom of the fixedbacking member as by means of adhesive spots 26 (FIG. 4). Apart from theattachment by means of the adhesive spots 26, the sheets 22 and 24 arenot attached to the centrally located fixed backing member 10 wherebythe sheets 22 and 24 may be interleaved between the sheets 14, 16, 18and 20 of the slide mechanism 8. This is most clearly shown in FIGS. 3and 4 wherein it is disclosed that sheet 22 is interleaved betweenafirst pair of sheets 14 and 16 on the front side of the centrallylocated fixed backing member 10 and sheet 24 is interleaved betweensheets 20 and 18 on the rear side of the centrally located fixed backingmember 10. The outer sheets 14 and 18 of the slide mechanism 8 aretransparent, being formed from a material such as celluloid, so thatthey cover and protect apertures 44 in sheet 22 and apertures 34 and 36of sheet '24. The latter apertures are seen in FIG. 2 wherein'apertures34 permit the viewing of the chord diagrams 32 and smaller apertures 36permit the viewing of the designation for the musical'keys which areselected on the front side of the chord teaching device as will now bedescribed.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a key selector means is indicated generally at30 wherein the numeral 1 in a circle is inscribed or printed ontransparent sheet 14 of the slide mechanism8 with a pair of oppositelyextending arrows indicating the selected key for both the basic chord,on the left of the key selector in FIG. 1, and the relative minor chordindicated on the right of the key selector in FIG. 1. The slidemechanism 8 is movable vertically, that is up and down, on the centrallylocated fixed backing member 10 until the U-shaped slides 12 of theslide mechanism contact stop members 28 which are secured to thecentrally located fixed backing member 10. The indicla which indicatesthe chord appears on sheet 22 which lies directly beneath the celluloidsheet 14 of the slide mechanism 8. Also imprinted on outermost celluloidsheet 14 are a series of modulating notes 38 which are spaced betweenmain chords 40 also on the celluloid sheet 14. Thus the student knowsthat after striking the main chord indicated at 40 he is to strike theseries of modulating notes 38 until he re positions his fingers on theproper strings in order to strke the next main chord 40. The sheet 22 inaddition to the printed musical scale traversed by arrow 30 is alsoprovided with apertures 44 through which appear the sharp designations42 which are printed on the indicia thereon, it serves to protect andcover apertures 34 and 36 in the sheet 24 attached to the centrallylocated fixed backing member at selected top and bottom portions thereofby means of adhesive comparable to that shown at 26 in FIG. 4. The chorddiagrams indicated by the numeral 32 are imprinted so as to be viewablewhen looking at the back side of the chord teaching device 6. Alsoimprinted on the inner sheet are 1 the key designations which areviewable through apertures 36 and the sheet 24. The musical key, asselected at in FIG. 1, also appears through the aperture 36 on the backor reverse side of the chord teaching device 6. In other words, theapertures 34 form a frame for three consecutive basic chords printedabove three consecutive minor chords. The key designations as seenthrough apertures 36 are so laid out or positioned on sheet 20 that onlythree major chord keys and three minor chord keys are viewable throughapertures 36 for a given key selection.

From the typical chord diagram for the key of E as illustrated in FIG.6, it is learned from the sequence of numbers 0 2 3 l 0 O that thesecond finger is placed on the second string, the third finger is placedon the third string, the first finger is placed on the fourth string,and no other finger is placed on any other string, for example.

The sequence of events of playingthe chords is to strike the main chord,then strike three modulating notes while repositioning ones fingers tothe second basic chord, striking that note followed by three modulatingnotes, reverting again to the first basic chord, striking it followed bythree modulating notes, and then proceeding to the third basic chord.After the third basic chord is struck and the three modulating notesthereafter, the sequence is begun again. This is all indicated in FIG. 1by the main designation of numerals l, 2, 1, 3, 1 within the circles.The same may be practiced with the relative minor chords.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a substantial amount ofinformation is available to the student by use of the chord teachingdevice of the present invention.

The chord diagrams are so laid out that approximately only 1 inch ofvertical movement of the slide mechanism 8 is required to encompass theentire range of key selections whereby stop members 28 may be employedto limit the amount of movement of the slide mechanism and provide acompact unit.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood-from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A music key and chord diagram device comprismg:

a. a centrally located fixed backing member,

b. apertured sheet means attached at selected positions in the region ofthe top and bottom of said backing member,

c. said apertured sheet means comprising a first sheet on one side ofsaid fixed backing member and a second sheet onthe opposite side of saidfixed backing member, said first and second sheets being attached attheir top and'bottom to said fixed backing member, d. slide meansslidable up and down on said fixed -backing member, said slide meanscomprising a pair of inner sheets inserted between said apertured sheetmeans and said fixed backing member on opposite sides thereof and anouter sheet positioned exteriorly of one of said sheets of saidapertured sheet means, and edge clamping means holding the side edges ofsaid inner and outer sheets together whereby said slide means moves as aunit up and down on said fixed backing member, e. indicia meansconstituting a music key selector on said slide means and said aperturedsheet means on one side of said fixed backing member,

f. and indicia means constituting a chord diagram means selectivelydisplaying chords in the key indicated by said selector indicia means,said chord indicia means located on the opposite side of said fixedbacking member on said slide means and said apertured sheet means.

2. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 1 includingprotruding stop means affixed to said fixed backing member andengageable by said slide means to limit up and down movement of saidslide means.

3. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid outer sheets are transparent.

4. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 1 whereinthe apertures in said apertured sheet means and the chord diagrams onsaid indicia bearing sheets are so arranged to reveal three basic chordsand three relative minor chords for a given position of said music keyselector means.

5. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid slide means includes a second outer sheet positioned exteriorly ofthe other of said sheets of said apertured'sheet means.

6. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid edge clamping means is a substantially U-shaped preformed plasticmember.

7. A music key and chord diagram device comprismg:

a. a centrally located fixed backing member,

b. apertured sheet means attached at selected positions in the region ofthe top and bottom of said fixed backing member,

c. slide means slidable up and down 'on said fixed backing means, saidslide means comprising:

1. a first pair of sheets inserted between said apertured sheet meansand said fixed'backing member on opposite sides of said fixed backingmember,

2. a second pair of sheets positioned exteriorly of said apertured sheetmeans on opposite sides of said fixed backing member,

3. said first and second pair of sheet means having marginal edgessubstantially coincident with a pair of opposed sides of said fixedbacking member,

4. and edge clamping means for holding the marginal edges of said firstand second pairs of sheets together whereby said slide means moves as aunit up and down on said fixed backing member,

d. indicia means constituting a music key selector means on said slidemeans and said apertured sheet means,

e. indicia means constituting a chord diagram means selectivelydisplayed by said slide means and said apertured sheet means,

f. and stop means affixed to said fixed backing member and engageable bysaid slide means to limit the up and down movement of said slide means.

8. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 7 whereinsaid music key selector means also designate modulating notes betweenchord positions.

9. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 7 whereinsaid edge clamping means is a substantially U-shaped performed plasticmember.

10. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 7 whereinsaid key selector means also indimusic key selector means.

1. A music key and chord diagram device comprising: a. a centrallylocated fixed backing member, b. apertured sheet means attached atselected positions in the region of the top and bottom of said backingmember, c. said apertured sheet means comprising a first sheet on oneside of said fixed backing member and a second sheet on the oppositeside of said fixed backing member, said first and second sheets beingattached at their top and bottom to said fixed backing member, d. slidemeans slidable up and down on said fixed backing member, said slidemeans comprising a pair of inner sheets inserted between said aperturedsheet means and said fixed backing member on opposite sides thereof andan outer sheet positioned exteriorly of one of said sheets of saidapertured sheet means, and edge clamping means holding the side edges ofsaid inner and outer sheets together whereby said slide means moves as aunit up and down on said fixed backing member, e. indicia meansconstituting a music key selector on said slide means and said aperturedsheet means on one side of said fixed backing member, f. and indiciameans constituting a chord diagram means selectively displaying chordsin the key indicated by said selector indicia means, said chord indiciameans located on the opposite side of said fixed backing member on saidslide means and said apertured sheet means.
 2. A music key and chorddiagram device as defined in claim 1 including protruding stop meansaffixed to said fixed backing member and engageable by said slide meansto limit up and down movement of said slide means.
 2. a second pair ofsheets positioned exteriorly of said apertured sheet means on oppositesides of said fixed backing member,
 3. said first and second pair ofsheet means having marginal edges substantially coincident with a pairof opposed sides of said fixed backing member,
 3. A music key and chorddiagram device as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer sheets aretransparent.
 4. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim1 wherein the apertures in said apertured sheet means and the chorddiagrams on said indicia bearing sheets are so arranged to reveal threebasic chords and three relative minor chords for a given position ofsaid music key selector means.
 4. and edge clamping means for holdingthe marginal edges of said first and second pairs of sheets togetherwhereby said slide means moves as a unit up and down on said fixedbacking member, d. indicia means constituting a music key selector meanson said slide means and said apertured sheet means, e. indicia meansconstituting a chord diagram means selectively displayed by said slidemeans and said apertured sheet means, f. and stop means affixed to saidfixed backing member and engageable by said slide means to limit the upand down movement of said slide means.
 5. A music key and chord diagramdevice as defined in claim 1 wherein said slide means includes a secondouter sheet positioned exteriorly of the other of said sheets of saidapertured sheet means.
 6. A music key and chord diagram device asdefined in claim 1 wherein said edge clamping means is a substantiallyU-shaped preformed plastic member.
 7. A music key and chord diagramdevice comprising: a. a centrally located fixed backing member, b.apertured sheet means attached at selected positions in the region ofthe top and bottom of said fixed backing member, c. slide means slidableup and down on said fixed backing means, said slide means comprising: 8.A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 7 wherein saidmusic key selector means also designate modulating notes between chordpositions.
 9. A music key and chord diagram device as defined in claim 7wherein said edge clamping means is a substantially U-shaped performedplastic member.
 10. A music key and chord diagram device as defined inclaim 7 wherein said key selector means also indicates sharp notes for agiven selected key.
 11. A music key and chord diagram device as definedin claim 7 wherein said second pair of sheets positioned exteriorly ofsaid apertured sheet means are transparent and serve to cover andprotect the apertures in said apertured sheet means.
 12. A music key andchord diagram device as defined in claim 7 wherein the apertures in saidapertured sheet means and the chord diagrams on said indicia bearingsheets are so arranged to reveal three basic chords and three relativeminor chords for a given position of said music key selector means.